swift´ly

swift «swihft», adjective, adverb, noun.

–adj.

1. moving very fast; able to move very fast: »

a swift horse, a swift automobile.

SYNONYM(S): fleet, speedy, rapid.

2. made or done at high speed; quick: »

a swift pace, the swift clicking of the knitting needles.

3. coming, happening, or performed quickly; prompt: »

a swift answer.

4. quick, rapid, or prompt to act; ready; alert (to): »

swift to suspect. He is swift to repay a kindness.

5. passing quickly; that is soon over; brief: »

Swift Summer into the Autumn flowed (Shelley).

–adv.

in a swift manner; swiftly.

–n.

1. a small bird with long, strong wings, noted for its rapidity of flight. It is related to the hummingbird and goatsucker but looks somewhat like a swallow. The chimney swift of North America often builds its nest in an unused chimney. »

The swift…has a wingspread of some 16 inches, which makes it an incomparable little flying machine (Scientific American).

2. any one of certain small lizards that run quickly.

3. any one of a family of large moths distinguished by their rapid flight; ghost moth.

4. a kind of reel, usually adjustable in diameter, used for winding skeins of yarn, silk, and thread.

5. a cylinder in a carding machine.

╂[Old English swift]

–swift´ly, adverb.

–swift´ness, noun.